Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabightlu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabightlu’, characterized by its dark purple-violet colored flowers colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabightlu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabightlu’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during October 2014. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration, and a moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded 14-591-(3).2, not patented, characterized by its medium purple-violet colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded 14-660-(3).1, not patented, characterized by its dark purple-violet colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, trailing growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2015 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2015 in Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabightlu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Dark purple-violet colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having larger diameter flowers and in being earlier to bloom. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent in having larger diameter flowers and in have a more mounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET Deep Blue ‘Balcabdebu’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,039. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcabdebu’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter flowers than         plants of ‘Balcabdebu’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of         ‘Balcabdebu’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a different flower color than         plants of ‘Balcabdebu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabightlu’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcabightlu’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcabightlu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in November 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 72° F. (20° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida ‘Balcabightlu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded 14-591-(3).2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded 14-660-(3).1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 5.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 14.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young and             mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 16. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B             with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: Closest to 138A with midvein of 146D. Color of             upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 146C             to indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of mature             foliage: Between 138A and 138B with venation of 146D to             indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabightlu’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 15. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 8.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion 79D, tube             portion 154D, venation of N92A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Shallowly notched. Length from tube:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately             6.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glandular             pubescent, dense along venation. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface when first open: Closest             to N87A with N88A and venation of N92C. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: N87C with venation of             N92A. Color of upper surface when fully open: Closest to but             darker than N87A with N88A and venation of N92C.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 13C             with N92A at throat opening, venation of N92C. Color of             outer surface: 154D with venation of N92A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.6 cm             to 1.7 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A.             Color of lower surface: 138B with base of 144A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament             color: 145D. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 143A. Style length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style             color: 145D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary             color: 145A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabightlu’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 